Matt Austin: Season was cut short with a horrific injury in the AFLQ where he snapped his fibula and dislocated his ankle. Austin has had three seasons at the club now and would be keen to add to his 11 senior appearances.
Todd Banfield: Got an unexpected start in round one and never looked back. Banfield bobbed up with 25 goals as a small forward and was most impressive with his defensive pressure. A huge bonus for the Lions.
Callum Bartlett: The youngster had no luck in his first season. Overcame a full knee reconstruction and was on the verge of making his senior debut before blowing out his other knee, which needed a full reco.
*Claye Beams: The younger brother of Collingwood’s Dayne, Beams was one of the Lions' best performed in the AFLQ, winning selection for Queensland in its state game against Tasmania. Unlucky not to be elevated.
Simon Black: Despite being the club’s oldest player, Black is still one of the best. With almost 26 touches a game, he racked up a career-high average to show he still has a few good seasons left.
Jared Brennan: Another solid season from the exciting utility, without quite taking his game to the next level. A mid-year ankle injury cost him three weeks and slowed his momentum. Strongly linked with Gold Coast but the Lions will be desperate to keep him.
Jonathan Brown: Was the best player in the league for the first month then struggled with groin and abdominal problems. Brown eventually missed four matches but still topped 50 goals. His form was often a barometer for the Lions’ fortunes.
Amon Buchanan: After coming north from the Swans, Buchanan fell short of the mark in his first season. Injuries and poor form meant he was in and out of the side and was unable to contribute in the midfield/small forward role the Lions craved.
Jamie Charman: After sitting the entire season on the sideline, the big ruckman has now played just three games in two years with an ankle injury. With the development of Leuenberger and Clark, the 28-year-old’s career is at the crossroads.
Mitch Clark: Clark seemed to struggle sharing the ruck duties with Leuenberger. Still a strong contributor, particularly when going forward, but plays in a permanent position. A cornerstone of the Lions’ future.
Xavier Clarke: After recovering from a full knee reconstruction, Clarke’s season lasted just 15 minutes when he tore a hamstring against Melbourne in round 18. Is worth persisting with as his zip and skill are something the team is crying out for.
Tom Collier: Got his chance mid-season with the long injury list, but despite having some good moments, the strong Collier failed to grab his chance in defence and was dropped after the embarrassing loss to Hawthorn in round 16.
Aaron Cornelius: Had limited opportunities but showed good signs. His three-goal haul against Richmond was the best of his six games, but Cornelius has shown he has strong hands in the forward line. Needs to work on strength and second efforts.
Josh Drummond: When he hobbled off with a knee injury in round seven, the Lions’ season went with him. Had a dynamic start and his piercing left foot from defence is crucial to the team’s success.
Josh Dyson*: The lightly framed midfielder was making a solid fist of things at AFLQ level before the second half of his season was destroyed by glandular fever.
Brendan Fevola: As expected he brought everything to the Gabba from freakish goals to sluggish efforts to off-field dramas. In a struggling team, his 48 goals from 17 matches was solid but below his high standards. The next two years of his contract will show whether the trade was the right move.
Mitchell Golby*: Had his first season destroyed by injury. Overcame a full knee reconstruction and after just a handful of games in the AFLQ, injured the same knee and was forced to finish the season on the sideline.
Pearce Hanley: The Irishman made good strides in 2010. While his decision making was sometimes questionable, Hanley offered plenty of run from the back.
Ryan Harwood: The tough little Tasmanian worked hard in the reserves and was rewarded with some games late in the season. Played with energy and tenacity that suggests he may see more action next season.
James Hawksley: Played 10 of the first 13 games but lost some touch and played just once more. Showed some creativity off a half back flank.
Travis Johnstone: Had his moments but as with his two previous seasons in Brisbane, Johnstone was inconsistent and was dropped three times. Got plenty of the ball, but defensive pressure was still lacking and his future at the club must be under a cloud.
Matthew Leuenberger: The beanpole ruckman’s form was one of the shining lights of the season. Coming off a knee reconstruction, he got through all 22 games, was terrific in the ruck and noticeably improved his work around the ground.
Matt Maguire: Had a mixed first season after coming from St Kilda. Maguire played a key defensive post with the hope of freeing up Joel Patfull and usually held his own. Worked hard.
Broc McCauley*: Missed some games in the reserves with a groin problem, but on the whole had a successful season. Was on the short-list for the Queensland state team and one of the better ruckmen in the AFLQ.
Bart McCulloch: After a frustrating 2009, McCulloch took a step forward this season. Injuries still prevented him from playing a senior game, but showed he could play forward as well as in the ruck.
Ashley McGrath: Missed a match through suspension and a couple with injury, but when on the field, McGrath was a driving force in a defence under siege. His run and carry was a vital cog in the Lions’ forward forays.
Niall McKeever*: For a project player from Ireland that had never picked up a footy before he came to the Lions, McKeever was a revelation. Despite the steep learning curve, he made fullback his home in the reserves. A definite plus for the Lions.
Daniel Merrett: Had a season he would rather forget. Like his team-mates, Merrett started strongly but a hamstring injury derailed his season. Returned against the Bulldogs in round 12 and was mauled by Barry Hall and never regained his confidence.
Jesse O'Brien: Got one game against Carlton in the seniors but was man-handled and sent back to the reserves. O’Brien has good intensity at the contest but needs to add some bulk to his slight frame.
Joel Patfull: Joined Brennan and Staker in the 'Mr Fix-It' role but had trouble flourishing. Patfull swung from key defender to midfielder to tagger and did a solid job in all. Improved his endurance to move into the midfield.
James Polkinghorne: After breaking through as a small forward last season, Polkinghorne had some second-season blues. Banfield was preferred in the forward role and Polkinghorne struggled to impress in the middle, despite numerous chances.
Luke Power: As busy as ever but Power was slightly below his usual high standards this season. Missed some defensive assignments but Power found plenty of his own ball. Still has some good seasons left if he continues to work hard.
Albert Proud: After a self-imposed two-month absence from the club, Proud’s season never really got going. Came back as a defensive forward and showed it was a role that may suit him. Club has shown him a lot of faith and 2011 is time to repay it.
Andrew Raines: Got plenty of the ball and showed glimpses of the dash off half-back the Lions recruited him for, but far too often Raines’ disposal let him down. Season was ended early by a quad injury.
Jack Redden: The hard-working midfielder had a breakthrough season, playing every game. Unlike a lot of young players, Redden seemed to get stronger as the season went and was a consistent ball-winner that found a home in the middle.
Bryce Retzlaff: Injury hampered the start of his season, but Retzlaff impressed at reserves level as a lead-up centre half-forward. Kicked plenty of goals and must have been close to a senior call-up.
Daniel Rich: The 2009 NAB Rising Star winner found things a bit more difficult second time around but was still a strong contributor. Teams marked him more tightly in the middle, but Rich showed versatility when moved to the backline.
Michael Rischitelli: In the mix for the Lions' best and fairest after an ultra-consistent season. Rischitelli had a point to prove after being used as trade bait for Fevola in the off-season and stepped up big time. Now strongly linked with Gold Coast.
Tom Rockliff: Like Redden, was a midfield breakthrough this season. Showed great tenacity, strength at the contest, and regularly racked up 25-plus possessions. Has a never-say-die attitude that Voss loves and should have a long career ahead of him.
Troy Selwood: It was almost fitting that Selwood’s last game for the Lions would end after a courageous collision with Essendon’s Kyle Hardingham. The highly respected and courageous Lion has been delisted after playing just five games in 2010.
Sam Sheldon: Failed to kick on after a promising first season. Sheldon played five games mid-season but looked slightly off the pace. Has a fight to keep his contract.
Justin Sherman: Struggled to live up to the benchmark he set last season. Very inconsistent and was dropped twice late in the season after a string of quiet games.
Brent Staker: Undoubtedly the best of Voss’s off-season recruits. Staker was used everywhere from forward, back and even into the midfield and did so successfully. His versatility was a godsend with the team’s crippling injury toll.
Cheynee Stiller: Still looking for a permanent position after being juggled between the midfield and defence. Stiller couldn’t quite grasp his opportunities and was in and out of the side.
Sean Yoshiura*: The former Australian schoolboy cross-country representative had a tough first season. Yoshiura started slowly in the AFLQ but gradually improved as the season wore on.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
